9/24/2004 @ 7:00AM

The 400 Richest Americans

The U.S. economy’s recovery may be a little shaky, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at this year’s Forbes 400. The combined net worth of the nation’s wealthiest climbed to $1 trillion, up $45 billion in 12 months.More…Sort List ByRank |Name |Net Worth |Age |Residence

The List

Notable NewbiesBy Penelope Patsuris There are 45 new faces on this year’s Forbes 400.DropoffsBy Penelope Patsuris More than 10% of last year’s Forbes 400 no longer make the cut.In MemoriamBy Penelope Patsuris Six of last year’s Forbes 400 died in the past year.

Where Are They Now?

Featured

Fat-Cat FelonsBy David Ewalt Even the wealthy and powerful sometimes find themselves in the dirty backseat of a police cruiser.Blubber CapitalismBy Laura Saunders How whale oil turned New Bedford, Mass. into a 19th-century wealth center.Charity And The 400By David Whelan Some of the very rich have given away large chunks of their fortunes. Here we add that money back.It’s My MoneyBy William P. Barrett Small town, big money, messy lawsuit.The FakesBy William P. Barrett Not rich enough to make The Forbes 400? Pretend you are.What Year Is This?By Matthew Miller An instant dot-com fortune? Yep.Spreading The WealthBy Peter Newcomb Twenty divided family fortunes.The Rich Pick BushBy Jackie Brown and Danielle DiPenti The Forbes 400 overwhelming support President Bush.The Founders’ ClubBy David M. Ewalt Only 50 have been on the list since its start.